SOBO Flip completed, now for the NOBO Flop!!

image

Mission Complete

On Sunday, May 15th, the trio finished the southern leg of their FLIP-FLOP SOBO and TAB (Trail Angel Bobbi) picked us up for the return to Virginia.  806.1 miles, 2 months and 2 days of hiking and the first part if our mission is completed!!

image

For Greyhound, there was little rest for the weary.  She had just enough time for a good night’s rest and a resupply after the 8 hour  long drive back to Lynchburg.  She’s scheduled to attend a college friend’s wedding next weekend and had to hike to Harper’s Ferry (217 miles) in 10 1/2 days and catch a shuttle to D.C. and flight to Kentucky!  We dropped her off at 4:10 p.m. on Monday and she already had 35 miles done by the end of Tuesday!!  Greyhound is a BEAST!

image

In the meantime, Mountain Goat & Chopper “struggled” through 2 days of R & R before jumping back on the trail Wednesday.  The plan is to reunite with Greyhound when she flies back thru D.C. and shuttles back to Harper’s Ferry a week from Tuesday.

image

Saturday, we completed 55 miles NOBO and met up with some more super trail magic in Afton.  TAB and TAS (Trail Angels Susan & my wife Bobbi) picked us up at the trailhead (Waynesboro) and deliver us to the home of TAL, TAV & TAK (Trail Angels Laura, Victor and Katie) where we got hot showers, watched a couple movies, did laundry, resupplied and had an incredible home cooked meal.  TAS & TAB will drop us off tomorrow and we’ll continue NOBO and the Shenandoah National Park.

image

Today’s Hike is History, Tomorrow’s Hike’s a Mystery
Right now is a Gift and why it’s called the Present!

Affiliate Disclosure

This website contains affiliate links, which means The Trek may receive a percentage of any product or service you purchase using the links in the articles or advertisements. The buyer pays the same price as they would otherwise, and your purchase helps to support The Trek's ongoing goal to serve you quality backpacking advice and information. Thanks for your support!

To learn more, please visit the About This Site page.

Comments 14

  • Gwen Gregory : May 22nd

    I’m very, very proud of the three of you! Quite an accomplishment! I’m envious of the journey! That being said, I must protest with the term “flop”. Now I know you’re a seasoned thru-hiker on the Appalachian Trail and I’m just support personnel, but to describe more than half of your journey as NOBO “flop” seems egregious and is painful to hear. I know on the trail, you and your fellow hiker buddies have a secret language and use terms for hygiene, camp gear, clothing, food, smells and the like. The term “flip-flop” is acceptable, and so is “flip”. After all, you do “flip pancakes”, “flip a coin”, “flip a switch”, greet someone with, “See you on the flip side”, etc.

    There was a very popular actor, comedian by the name of “Flip Wilson”. No one will ever know how successful he would have been if he had gone by the name “Flop Wilson”.

    “Flop” is a sad, ugly word. “Flip” is quite peppy and happy. I know you may be ostracized by the hiking community and it might be considered to be a faux pas for you to use the term, however, doesn’t it sound better, “SOBO Flop completed, now for the NOBO Flip!!”???
    -Your loving “flipping” seester

    Reply
    • Duke Conrad : May 22nd

      Flip is the first part of the term flip-flop and doesn’t have the ability to stand on its own….when it does, it brings to mind flip remark (negative), flippant (flipping an ant), Flipper (a long dead aquatic mammal), R U flipping kidding (substitute for a curse word).

      On the other hand, you have flop houses for much needed rest, a basketball player “flopping” being a skill all basketball players try to emulate, or how about the Fosberry Floo, the high jump method still used by 99% of all international high jumpers……and of course Flip-Flopping in politics where during their flip, they supported some obscure or dangerous position that was later changed in the flop to a position that makes sense. To change the 2nd part of our journey to flip would in its own right be egregious. To support my argument, I close with one more……are you outa your flipping mind;)?

      Chopper (I’m done flipping, it’s time we flop to it;))

      Reply
  • KP Haueter : May 23rd

    Duke,
    What is that you and your hiking partner are wearing over your shoes?
    Pentagoner (An aspiring 2020 flip-floper when I can escape the 5-sided puzzle palace)

    Reply
    • Tom Brady : May 24th

      KP I believe those are gaiters. They help keep small rocks, twigs, snow and other stuff from getting into your boots.

      Reply
      • Duke Conrad : May 25th

        Absolutely right Tom….thanks for following my blog! How’s training camp going;)

        Reply
    • Duke Conrad : May 25th

      Dirty Girl Gaiters!! They com in a bunch of interesting colors/paterns;). Tom Brady hit the nail on the head with his comments. We were growing weary of having all kinds of debri fall into our shoes….with the Dirty Girl Gaiters, problem solved;). Check em out, and thanks for following along!!

      Reply
      • Patti Golden : May 26th

        I was wondering the same thing. Thanks for the reply. Will have to check those out if I ever do my flip-flop.

        Reply
        • Duke Conrad : May 27th

          Patti,

          Thanks for following! I’ve struggled getting out my updates recently. We’re now in Front Royal, VA and will be in Harper’s Ferry on Tuesday to rejoin Greyhound who is attending a wedding in Kentucky!

          Reply
  • Shelly Z- NNPS : May 26th

    Hey Duke, I have been reading occasionally. What an adventure!

    Reply
    • Duke Conrad : May 27th

      Thanks for following Shellly Z! The NNPS Family has stepped up and has been well represented!! Thanks for following;)

      Reply
  • Jelly Ankles (1/2 of the Kentucky Cruisers) : May 27th

    Duke! I am 1 of the NOBO Kentucky girls you three met right before you hit Watauga Lake! Greyhound caught up to us three days ago right before the roller coaster and she was flying. Made it into Harper’s Ferry the same day but she probably made it many hours before us. So fun to meet y’all way back when and to run into our Kentucky sister once more. Hope the rest of your flip flop is just as successful as the first part!

    Reply
  • Duke Conrad : May 27th

    Hey there Jelly Ankles!!
    Great to hear that the Kentucky Cruisers are kicking it strong! Our plan is to pick up Greyhound upon her return Tuesday and hopefully see you ladies again. Thanks for the Greyhound update and for checking in on the blog!!

    Reply
  • Irvin Valle (COACH IRV) : May 30th

    Nice to see the southern part done. I have been following your posts since the prep stages. Keep on hiking.

    Reply
    • Duke Conrad : May 30th

      Thanks Coach IRV,

      You have indeed been a loyal followers and I APPRECIATE that!! Just posted another blog…check it out, and THANKS AGAIN!! We’re looking forward to a zero when we hit PA. With my cousin and his wife! We’re overdue, but gotta put some miles behind us!!

      CHOPPER

      Reply

What Do You Think?